A new United Nations treaty, the 2006 International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances, will take effect tomorrow, December 23, 2010. The Convention bans enforced disappearances and declares widespread or systematic kidnappings to be a crime against humanity. It also bans all forms of secret detentions. The treaty requires that the states parties enact domestic legislation making enforced disappearance a crime and that they prosecute any person who commits, orders, solicits or induces forced kidnapping. 87 States have signed the treaty thus far, not including the United States, and 20 States have ratified it, allowing it to take effect. The text of the treaty may be found here and the ratification status may be found here.